Under the instruction of University of Mississippi theatre arts professor Jim Shollenberger, students Alex Mauney and Whitney Merritt set out to write four scenes about dating. The duo met once a week over an entire semester to discuss and collaborate on the project. They handed in their final draft of “Part of the Heard” just four days before graduation last spring.<\/p>\n
“The biggest obstacle was just finding time to write,” said Mauney, a 2009 UM graduate. “We were both juggling classwork, trying to complete our senior studio projects along with rehearsals for various stage shows. It was very tricky.”<\/p>\n
Acted by students in the Department of Theatre Arts, the film premieres at 8 p.m. Wednesday (March 3) in Fulton Chapel. The movie is to be screened nightly through March 6 and again at 2 p.m. March 7. Tickets are $10.50 for adults, $8.50 for children and seniors, and $7 for UM students.<\/p>\n
A full-length feature film, “Part of the Heard” is a quirky, off-beat comedy about a college girl with self-esteem problems who lists various versions of herself – including a “goth girl,” a sexy seductress and a Daisy Duke type – on Craigslist.com in hopes of finding a match. What she finds is that she really needs to rethink her life.<\/p>\n
“The film pretty accurately captures college-age girls and guys doing the silly and sometimes stupid and sometimes hurtful things they do,” said Shollenberger, editor and director. “What it mostly does is make you laugh.”<\/p>\n
Mauney, 23, of Ripley, said it’s satisfying to see classmates from Ole Miss in the film, but the greatest joy was collaborating with Merritt, 23, of Tupelo.<\/p>\n
“Whitney is someone I respected and loved as an artist and friend,” Mauney said. “We had a blast together, and I wouldn’t trade a moment of it.”<\/p>\n